22.05.2024

The perfect employee (according to AI): HR consultancy challenges AI in defining the 'perfect employee'

A leading HR consultancy is challenging the perceptions of what AI defines as the ‘perfect employee’ – confident that technology won’t be able to replace a human workforce.

From sorting through applications and identifying the most suitable candidates to interview, to making a formal job offer and preparing all the necessary paperwork for a new team member – the hiring process can easily become expensive, both in terms of time and money.

And with the current AI boom seemingly affecting almost all sectors, it’s seen businesses turn to AI to help streamline the recruitment process – but can AI’s interpretation of what makes the perfect employee be trusted?

HR Star, a specialist HR agency, asked ChatGPT to outline the character traits that would make the ‘perfect’ employee, which produced the following list of key characteristics:

1. Technical Competence

Skills and Expertise: The perfect employee has the necessary technical skills and expertise relevant to their role. They keep their skills updated through continuous learning and adapting to new technologies or methodologies.

Problem-Solving Abilities: They possess strong analytical skills and can approach problems methodically, finding effective and innovative solutions.

2. Personal Qualities

Adaptability: They are flexible and can adjust to changing circumstances and new challenges with ease.

Proactivity and Initiative: They don't wait for tasks to be assigned but take the initiative to identify and address needs or opportunities for improvement.

Reliability: They are dependable, consistently delivering high-quality work on time, and can be trusted to follow through on commitments.

Work Ethic: They are diligent, motivated, and demonstrate a strong commitment to their work and the company's goals.

Communication Skills: They communicate clearly and effectively, both in writing and verbally, and are good listeners who can engage in meaningful and productive dialogue.

3. Interpersonal Traits

Team Player: They collaborate well with others, contributing to a positive and productive team environment. They are supportive of colleagues and willing to share knowledge.

Emotional Intelligence: They are aware of their own emotions and those of others, which helps in managing interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.

Cultural Fit: They align with the company's values and culture, fostering a sense of belonging and contributing to a cohesive workplace.

4. Mindset and Attitude

Passion and Enthusiasm: They are passionate about their work and the company's mission, which translates into high levels of engagement and enthusiasm.

Customer Focus: They understand the importance of customer satisfaction and strive to provide excellent service, whether dealing with internal or external customers.

Resilience: They can handle stress and setbacks without losing motivation, maintaining a positive attitude even in challenging situations.

5. Continuous Improvement

Learning Agility: They have a growth mindset, always looking for ways to improve their skills and knowledge. They embrace feedback and view challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.

Innovation: They are open to new ideas and approaches, and contribute creatively to the company's development and problem-solving processes.

6. Leadership Potential

Influence and Inspiration: They have the ability to inspire and motivate others, even if they are not in a formal leadership position.

Decision-Making: They make informed decisions confidently and can take responsibility for the outcomes of those decisions.

Kelly Tucker, Founder of HR Star, gave her view on the output and how possible it is to tick all of those boxes: "AI provides a framework for identifying traits that are broadly desirable in the workplace but expecting any individual to show all of these characteristics is an unrealistic expectation. Each person brings their own strengths to a role, and it’s about finding the right balance of qualities that fit within the culture and needs of a business. A holistic approach to recruitment ensures inclusivity in the workforce and is reflective of the real world."

She continued: “We use AI tools like ChatGPT here at HR Star, and we appreciate how helpful it is in terms of time-saving and productivity. But when it comes to managing people, in particular, we believe a human touch is always needed.

“For example, if you ask ChatGPT to write a letter to an employee to let them know that they’ve passed their probation or to terminate their employment. It will do it – and quickly – but it won’t deliver these messages in a way that shows emotions such as appreciation or empathy. A human touch is vital to ensuring the optimal final delivery of messages like these.”

The firm then turned to AI to create a visual representation too – using the image generating capabilities of ChatGPT 4o and the following prompt: “Make me an image of the 'perfect' employee as you see them, based on all the characteristics of what you'd expect. Make it photogenic and as realistic as possible.”

The resulting image revealed a man in a shirt and tie, standing in front of an office desk (pictured above).

Tucker assessed the response, saying: “This serves to really underline the problems with AI – where it calls on societal biases and preconceptions to present a distorted view. As a manager of people you have to be unbiased and objective, but AI can lead you down a path where you run the risk of pigeonholing or stereotyping. It highlights the dangers of relying on AI too heavily in your people management processes. AI has been developed by people, so biases, whether conscious or unconscious, are innate. It’s important then to take people as they come, not on a preestablished definition.”

Tucker concluded, saying: “By all means use AI, but people managers should use it with caution, combining its incredible capabilities with their human nuances and understanding to form a well-rounded, empathetic and ultimately human viewpoint.”

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